<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
This Surah is called <em>Nun</em> as well as <em>Al-Qalam</em>, the words with which it
begins.
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
This too is one of the earliest surahs to be revealed at Makkah, but
its subject matter shows that it was sent down at the time when
opposition to the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) had grown very
harsh and tyrannical.
</p>
<h2>Theme and Subject Matter</h2>
<p>
It consists of three themes: Replies to the opponents objections,
administration of warning and admonition to them, and exhortation to
the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to patience and constancy. 
</p>
<p>
At
the outset, the Holy Prophet has been addressed, to the effect: "The
disbelievers call you a madman whereas the Book that you are
presenting and the sublime conduct that you practise, are by
themselves sufficient to refute their false accusations. Soon they
will see as to who was mad and who was sane; therefore, do not at all
yield to the din of opposition being kicked up against you, for all
this is actually meant to cow you and make you resort to a compromise
with them." 
</p>
<p>
Then, in order to enlighten the common people the
character of a prominent man from among the opponents, whom the people
of Makkah fully well recognized, has been presented, without naming
him:At that time, the Holy Prophet's pure and sublime conduct was
before them, and every discerning eye could also see what sort of
character and morals were possessed by the chiefs of Makkah, who were
leading the opposition against him. 
</p>
<p>
Then, in vv. 17-33, the parable of
the owners of a garden has been presented, who after having been
blessed by Allah turned ungrateful to Him, and did not heed the
admonition of the best man among them when it was given them.
Consequently, they were deprived of the blessing and they realized
this, when all they had lay devastated. With this parable the people
of Makkah have been warned to the effect:"With the appointment of the
Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to Prophethood, you, O people of
Makkah, too, have been put to a test similar to the one to which the
owners of the garden had been put. If you do not listen to him, you
too will be afflicted with a punishment in the world, and the
punishment of the Hereafter is far greater." 
</p>
<p>
Then, in vv. 34-47
continuously, the disbelievers have been admonished, in which the
address sometimes turns to them directly and sometimes they are warned
through the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace). A summary of what has
been said in this regard, is this: Well being in the Hereafter
inevitably belongs to those who spend their lives in the world in full
consciousness of God. It is utterly against reason that the obedient
servants should meet in the Hereafter the same fate as the guilty.
There is absolutely no basis of the disbelievers misunderstanding that
God will treat them in the manner they choose for themselves, whereas
they have no guarantee for this. Those who are being called upon to
bow before God in the world and they refuse to do so, would be unable
to prostrate themselves on the Day of Resurrection even if they wanted
to do so, and thus would stand disgraced and condemned. Having denied
the Qur'an they cannot escape Divine punishment. The rein they are
being given, has deluded them. They think that since they are not
being punished in spite of their denial, they must be on the right
path, whereas they are following the path of ruin. They have no
reasonable ground for opposing the Messenger, for he is a preacher
without any vested interest: he is not asking any reward of them for
himself, and they cannot either make the claim that they know with
certainty that he is not a true Messenger, nor that what he says is
false. 
</p>
<p>
In conclusion, the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been
exhorted to the effect:"Bear with patience the hardships that you may
have to face in the way of preaching the Faith till Allah's judgment
arrives, and avoid the impatience which caused suffering and
affliction to the Prophet Jonah (peace be on him)."
</p>

